Week 9: Start 'Em

While we're not projecting starting type stats for these players, they have good potential and could surprise. This week's picks include Profiled players include Le'Veon Bell, Danny Woodhead, Ben Tate, Keenan Allen, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Since returning from injury, Le'Veon Bell has been productive three out of four weeks, making him a useful fantasy player at RB2 or even flex spot -- especially with all the injuries and bye weeks. Bell has rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns while catching 13 passes for 82 yards. While those aren't eye popping stats, they sure are good enough to help out your starting lineup. This week Bell and the Steelers face a Patriots team that has had a hard time stopping the run ever since All Pro Vince Wilfork was lost for the season due to injury. The Pats are giving up the second most rushing yards per week in the NFL at an average of 130 yards per game. If you need help at RB2 or flex, give Bell a look.

Danny Woodhead has been everything that Ryan Matthews has not been, consistent. Woodhead isn't a name you would expect to see as a good start in fantasy, but if you're in a point per reception league that's exactly what he is. Woodhead is averaging 5.7 receptions per game as well as 69 total yards per game. He has also scored four touchdowns over the first seven games. This week, Woodhead faces a Redskins defense that is giving up the fourth most yards this season at a rate of 397 per game. Woodhead is a dual threat to put up points rushing and catching passes, so if you need help at running back or flex then look no further than Woodhead.

Update 11-3-2013 - Foster will be active and will give it a try after being limited all week. All hands will be on deck as Houston tries to salvage their season. Tate obviously takes a bump down with Foster active but good chance he still gets more touches as he was able to do more in practice. If you have other players available in sunday or monday night action, you might want to give them a look but Tate should still be a good flex play

Ben Tate has been one of the better handcuffs to own in fantasy over the past three NFL seasons. Whenever called upon to give Arian Foster some much needed rest, Tate has come in and performed very well. Tate cracked four ribs in his week seven game, but played through it as Arian Foster left the game on the first series with a hamstring injury. Tate says he feels better now than when he was initially injured and expects to play this week. It looks more and more likely that Foster won't be playing, leaving Tate with a full complement of touches. If you need help at running back or flex this week, look no further than Ben Tate. (pay close attention to the Houston injury report).

The plan in San Diego was to bring rookie Keenan Allen along slowly; over the first three weeks that's exactly what they did, but then they were hit with injuries and Allen was pushed into a starting role. Over the past four games Allen has caught 23 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns, while he surpassed the 100 yard mark in two of those games. This week Allen and the Chargers faceoff with the Redskins, who are giving up 273 yards per game through the air, tied for fifth worst in the NFL. Allen has become one of Philip Rivers' most trusted receivers and that should only continue to grow. If you need help at wide receiver or flex this week, Allen is good to go.

Heyward-Bey came to the Colts for a fresh start and to try and prove he wasn't a first round bust after being the number seven pick in the 2009 NFL draft. In the Colts' last game two weeks ago, Reggie Wayne went down with a season ending injury that will move DHB up in the pecking order. He was already playing on 75.2 percent of the snaps, but was seeing under five targets per game. Playing with stud quarterback Andrew Luck, Heyward-Bay will have no problem seeing his targets get up closer to the 7-10 range. DHB makes for a very solid start at wide receiver or flex.